Stay hopeful, some advice,PLEASE READ!

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Hi, I'm new to this site, and I just wanted to say, that reading the NCLEX Forum over these last few weeks have really inspired me. I took the NCLEX-RN 3 times. I finally found out yesterday that I passed! Please stay hopeful you guys...It can be very intimidating to go back to that test after not passing. I was willing to try any new materials that would help me. I found Kaplan to be very helpful with strategies, and their questions are closer to NCLEX style. Also new Saunder's Q&A CD is good too. QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS. KNOW TEACHING AND PRIORITIZING TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY!!!! IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW WHAT MEDS TO STUDY, B/C ITS SO RANDOM,BUT FROM MY EXPERIENCE CARDIAC AND ANTI-HTN'S POP UP OFTEN! DO APPLICATION AND ANALYSIS STYLE QUESTIONS, AND STAY AS CALM AS YOU CAN!!!

I know that can be an understatement!! lol!! My test stopped at 77, and I stared at that disgusting blue screen for a little while..:uhoh21:. What's also gave me comfort was going to the NSCBN SITE AND CHECK OUT THE EXAM PSYCHOMETRICS LINK. IT GIVES AN EXAMPLE OF A PASS/FAIL GRAPH, AND HOW THE DECISION IS MADE. KEEP IN MIND, THIS TEST GRADES YOU ON A CALIBRATED LOGIT SYSTEM.

ANYWAY, IF THE TEST KEEPS GOING AFTER 75, IT DOES MEAN YOU'RE STILL IN THE GAME!!:lol2:. THE CAT SYSTEM NEEDS TO GIVE YOU MORE QUESTIONS TO SEE IF YOU CAN REACH THE PASSING POINT B/C YOU'RE SOO CLOSE!! THAT'S WHY SOME OF US GET NUMBERS THAT ARE SO RANDOM INBETWEEN 75 AND 265. TRY YOUR BEST AND STAY AS FOCUS AS POSSIBLE. GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL!!!!!;)

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Wohoo! Way to go!! Congrats, RN!!

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Thanks.

i'm taking my test on august 20. it's going to be my 2nd try. :crying2: i'm sooo scared. how many Q did you have on your 1st and 2nd attempts?

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My first attempt, it went to 265. I took that one in Virginia, where I'm originally from. The second time it went to 75, and I know my anxieties played a big part that time!! I took it that time in Georgia. Thanks for the congrats you guys!!! Did you guys check out the NCSBN Website? Hopefully it's putting some fears at ease a little...If this test went by how many you get wrong, IT WOULD DEFINITELY BE EVEN HARDER TO CONQUER!! GOOD LUCK! Keep me posted and let me know if you guys have any other questions.

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Specializes in Pedia Cardio--- 6 yrs ago!.

hi! i'll be taking mine on the 16th and it's gonna be my 3rd time too...i've been getting 50s-60s at the kaplan q trainers, finished my kaplan course book but i haven't finished my saunders yet. i'm sooo panicked with only 2 more weeks left that i don't know what to do. please enlighten me. thanks. and oh bytheway, congratulations on your success!

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Specializes in Operating Room.

Jess, Janina;

Good luck with your tests you made it through nursing school, you'll make it through The Test. Deep breaths and lots of studying. Use the cd's you'll be taking The Test on computer, so start getting used to being at the computer answering questions for long periods of time now. Also to start doing now: SLEEP, atleast 8 hours a night I cannot stress this enough, and start eating well balanced meals for energy. You both have taken it before, emulate those testing conditions to the best of your ability, on your test date you should do NOTHING new.

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Specializes in Operating Room.

Gayle:

CONGRATULATIONS! Good feeling isn't it

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Specializes in Pedia Cardio--- 6 yrs ago!.
Jess, Janina;

Good luck with your tests you made it through nursing school, you'll make it through The Test. Deep breaths and lots of studying. Use the cd's you'll be taking The Test on computer, so start getting used to being at the computer answering questions for long periods of time now. Also to start doing now: SLEEP, atleast 8 hours a night I cannot stress this enough, and start eating well balanced meals for energy. You both have taken it before, emulate those testing conditions to the best of your ability, on your test date you should do NOTHING new.

thanks ramon! you have no idea how helpful your words will be on the remaining days before my test. it's just that my scores on my qtrainers are really upsetting me...:o

but anywayz, thanks so much for your post!... means a lot.

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That was very inspiring what you wrote klgayle. I recently failed the NCLEX for the 3RD TIME!!!! But im preparing AGAIN to take it hopefully by october. I defintitely could use your advice. I was so positive that I was going to pass and I even went in and came out positive but unfortunately, luck just was not on my side once again. Any advice on specific things I can do to prepare this time?

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Thanks you guys...and I know it's becoming repetitive to say don't worry, but in reality IT'S JUST A TEST. Think about how much of an accomplishment it is getting through nursing school!! SO YOU WILL PASS, WE ALL HAVE SOME TYPE OF STRUGGLE, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH LIFE, NURSING SCHOOL, OR THIS TEST. KEEP THE FAITH...YOU WILL BE OK. I use to give this test a lot of power, but a nurse I know told me " Krista, it's just a test, that you will eventually pass, nobody's a failure in this, keep at it!"

Another piece of advice, I only told my fiance' when I was taking the test, and told no one else. I did this to calm my nerves, and take a little pressure off because I had two units that wanted to hire me. Last time I took the test, I told many people the date, and it was emotionally exhausting to tell them that I didn't pass. Everyone is different, but tell people that will support you, like this forum, family and close friends!!!

PRAY AND STAY STRONG!! SEE NEXT PAGE.

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A few more things, like Ramon said, get 8 hours of sleep and eat a healthy diet. I stop drinking sodas and caffeine the week before my test, and lots of water. I also went walking three times that week. It really helps to lessen your anxieties. I increased my intake of fish and seafood. LOTS OF OMEGA FATTY ACIDS ARE GOOD TO KEEP YOUR FOCUS...IT REALLY WORKS! As I practiced more questions, I could tell the difference. Some questions will start to become repetitive, and you may begin to recall the content you need to know to answer them correctly. READ ALL OF THE ANSWERS!! SOMETIMES THE WRONG ONES WILL GIVE YOU CLUES TO THE RIGHT ONE THATS THERE.

ON THE SAUNDERS Q&A CD, I FOCUSED MOSTLY ON THE CLIENTS NEEDS SECTION. THAT SECTION COVERS ABOUT HALF OF THE NCLEX OUTLINE.

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Krista, thanks a lot for your support.

How would you describe your level of anxiety on your 1nd, 2nd, 3rd attempts? Looks like you were VVVVery anxious taking the test for the 2nd time (based on your # of Q). Did you managed to calm down prior your 3rd try or you just were exhausted? :uhoh3:

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